A GLP-1 journey can bring visible changes in how your skin looks and feels in firmness, hydration, texture, and overall skin quality. Skincare won't change your weight or replace professional care, but a simple, consistent routine can support the appearance of healthier-looking, more hydrated, firmer-looking skin. This is a supportive, non-medical guide to building that routine: the fundamentals, the ingredients that matter, and how to adjust it as your journey evolves.
If your skin looks or feels different during a period of body transformation, it makes sense to want support, and you don't need an aggressive, complicated regimen to get it. The goal here is steady and manageable, not fear-based. (If you're just getting oriented, our explainer on what people call "Ozempic face" and whether it goes away are good companions to this one.)
Start with the fundamentals
Before any targeted products, a few basics do most of the work. These support visible skin quality at every stage of a GLP-1 journey:
- Support hydration first. Skin can look and feel drier or less comfortable during weight change, so a good moisturizer and hydrating ingredients matter. Deliberate water intake helps too.
- Wear daily broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher. Ideally mineral-based and non-comedogenic. Daily sun protection is one of the most consistently recommended steps for maintaining visible skin quality over time.
- Keep the routine simple enough to actually follow. Consistency usually matters more than complexity.
- Be thoughtful with active ingredients. More strong actives at once isn't better, and can leave skin reactive.
- Avoid over-exfoliating and stacking multiple harsh products, especially if your skin already feels sensitive.
A simple day-and-night routine
You don't need ten steps. A supportive structure looks like this:
Morning: gentle cleanse → a targeted treatment serum (if your skin tolerates one) → non-comedogenic moisturizer → broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher → makeup if you like.
Evening: gentle cleanse → a targeted treatment serum → non-comedogenic moisturizer.
That "targeted treatment" step is where a product like DermaReverse fits, which we'll come back to below. The key habits: always layer sunscreen over any treatment during the day, and give a new routine time before judging it.
Ingredients that support visible skin quality
A few well-studied ingredients are worth knowing about. Each supports the appearance of skin quality in a different way:
- Hyaluronic acid — supports a hydrated, plumper-looking surface.
- Peptides — support the look of firmness.
- Retinoids (Vitamin A) — support the appearance of smoother texture and fewer visible fine lines.
- Vitamin C and antioxidants — support a brighter, more even-looking complexion.
- Soothing botanicals like aloe, chamomile, and calendula — support comfortable-feeling skin.
A note on retinoids and who should skip them
Retinoids (Vitamin A ingredients) are among the most useful actives for the appearance of texture and fine lines, but they call for a little care:
- If your skin is sensitive to retinoids, start a few nights a week and build up as tolerated rather than going straight to daily.
- Don't combine a retinoid product with other topical retinoids unless a professional advises it.
- If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant, avoid Vitamin A–based topicals and check with your physician.
- If you notice itching, burning, or significant redness, reduce frequency. Discomfort isn't something to push through.
Adjust your routine to your stage
Where you are in your journey shapes what your skin needs. A simple way to think about it:
Considering or just starting
Focus on calm preparation: gentle cleansing, hydration, daily SPF, and a consistent base. No need to predict or chase every possible change. Add a targeted treatment only if your skin already tolerates one.
Actively in your journey
If you're starting to notice changes, name what you're seeing: dryness, texture, firmness, radiance, etc. Stabilize the basics, and consider targeted topical support for visible skin quality.
Maintaining or afterward
Focus on long-term consistency: hydration, daily SPF, appropriate topical support, and realistic expectations.
What skincare can — and can't — do
It helps to be clear-eyed here. Topical skincare can support the appearance of hydration, smoothness, texture, radiance, firmness, and elasticity. It cannot replace lost facial volume, change bone structure, or do what in-office treatments like fillers, energy devices, or procedures are designed to do. If your main concern is deflation or fullness (volume), or more pronounced looseness (deeper laxity), those are best assessed by a qualified aesthetic provider. Skincare and professional treatments serve different roles and can complement each other when guided appropriately.
Where DermaReverse fits
DermaReverse is Aforé's cosmetic topical serum: a lightweight, water-based, fragrance-free formula designed to support the appearance of hydration, texture, firmness, radiance, and overall skin quality during a GLP-1 journey. It's used twice daily, morning and night, and during the day should always be followed by SPF 30 or higher. It contains Vitamin A–based ingredients, so the retinoid guidance above applies.
It was studied specifically in this population: in a blinded, placebo-controlled, split-face clinical study of women using GLP-1 or SGLT-2–related therapies, the treated side showed statistically significant visible improvement compared with placebo across all 13 measured Global Ranking Scale domains, with improvement apparent by Day 21 and additional improvement by Day 42. No adverse events were reported during the study, and the results were published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. Individual results may vary.
Explore DermaReverse · Read the clinical study
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to change my skincare routine when starting a GLP-1?
Not necessarily. If your current routine is working, you may not need to overhaul it. Starting a GLP-1 is a good moment to make sure your routine supports hydration, comfort, daily sun protection, and visible skin quality.
What ingredients should I look for?
Ingredients that support the appearance of skin quality include hyaluronic acid for hydration, peptides for the look of firmness, retinoids for texture and fine lines, and vitamin C and antioxidants for a brighter, more even-looking complexion.
Do I really need sunscreen every day?
Yes. Daily broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher is one of the most consistently recommended steps for visible skin quality, and it's especially important when using retinoids. Apply it over a treatment serum during the day.
Can skincare fix loose or sagging-looking skin?
Topical skincare can support the appearance of firmness, elasticity, and overall skin quality, but it can't replace lost facial volume or address deeper laxity. Those are best evaluated by a qualified provider.
When will I see results from a routine?
Skincare takes consistency and time. In the DermaReverse clinical study — a blinded, placebo-controlled, peer-reviewed study — statistically significant visible improvement was observed by Day 21 with twice-daily use, with additional improvement by Day 42. Individual results may vary.
References
- Semersky A, Pryor S, Barwood-Parent C, Lee M, Copeland K, Few J. A Single-Center, Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating Cosmetic Efficacy and Safety of a Novel Topical GLPSGLT in Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Analog-Treated Patients. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum. 2025;7:ojaf030. doi:10.1093/asjof/ojaf030
- VanBuren CA, Everts HB. Vitamin A in Skin and Hair: An Update. Nutrients. 2022;14(14):2952. doi:10.3390/nu14142952
Disclaimer: Aforé and DermaReverse are independent and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or approved by the makers of any GLP-1 medication. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used here only to describe the topics discussed. This article discusses cosmetic, appearance-level changes in skin quality; nothing on this page implies that any medication causes a disease or medical condition. Aforé content is for general educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. Aforé products are cosmetic topical skincare products and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition, and are not a replacement for in-office treatment, medical care, or provider guidance. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant, do not use products containing Vitamin A derivatives without consulting your physician. Individual results may vary.